Food Allegies

Dear A.,

I just wanted to bring up an alternative treatment (natural, totally non-invasive) that actually clears allergies permanently. Probably sounds crazy, but our family is sold on it because we've seen it work. Check out www.NAET.com - click ENTER, than "Find a Practitioner." It's usually a chiropractor or acupuncturist who does NAET. It basically involves holding a vial in your hand, and having an acupressure treatment along your spine. Seems ridiculous, but I'm no longer allergic to cats, and know of people who have totally cleared severe food allergies. The best benefit is how it builds up the immunity system, so we hardly ever get sick anymore. It's WONDERFUL. We see Dr. Barnett, who is near 290 & Mangum. He's a great guy - and wonderful with children. It's $45 per visit, though the first appt is about $100. It's sooooo worth it, though - for better health longterm. We never ever use antibiotics or visit the pediatrican anymore, and we have three very normal kids!

Blessings,
R.

A.,

Let me start out by saying that I know exactly what you and your family are going through. It is amazing to me how food allergies can really effect a childs life. My oldest daughter Madison is 4yo. and also suffers from severe food allergies. When she was about 6mo., she started breaking out around her face and in creases of her body (behind the knees, inside elbows, hands etc...) All I was always told from her Ped. was that she had severe Eczema...I was given a prescription and they sent us home. There were days that were much worse than others and it would break my heart as a mom to see my child scratch herself to sleep and not be able to help her. When she was 2yo. she was FINALLY sent for allergy testing. Come to find out, she is allergic to Milk, Oat, Peanut, Egg, Dog, Grass etc... this was a huge shock. It has taken us quite some time (she is now 4yo) to feel as though we have somewhat of a handle on her allergies. Recently, (this past August) we became involved with FAAN (food allergy and anyphalaxis network) and it has been an absolute blessing to our family. They do a walk every year to raise money for allergy research and they do acnowledge food allergies as an actual "disease" which is so true. So many children suffer from food allergies same as someone with a disease would suffer. Since we participated in the Houston FAAN walk this summer, I have found so many great foods (alternatives) so she can now enjoy things she could not have before. It is so important though to constantly let your child know that this is NOT peanut butter but it is SOY butter (or whatever the alternative is). Here are some really awesome websites that have really helped me out and feel as though we are not alone... www.divvies.com ((cookies made without peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk)), www.enjoylifefoods.com ((cereals and other allergy free foods and snacks)), www.livingwithout.com ((magazine for people with allergies and food sensitivities)), www.foodallergy.com, www.foodallergy.org ((FAAN's website)), www.kidswithfoodallergies.org, www.allergators.com

All of the above websites are amazing and each has something important to share (changes in ingredients etc). It will really take some hard work on your part but it is amazing at the difference it will make in your childs life.

If you or anyone else would like to chat more about our childs allergies, please just send me a message, dealing with children's allergies is so tough and truly heartbreaking for me as a mom. It is always nice to feel as though you are not alone. Keep up the great work and keep on the doctors until you get the answers you are looking for!

ALSO....for people who's kids are allergic to EGGS...you MUST talk to your DR. before giving your child the MMR shot or the FLU shot...they DO contain egg ingredients! Just an FYI!

It sickens me that the doctors weren't more help. I'm glad you finally found out the root of the problem, but I would have been livid watching my child vomit and be in agony for so long. You should be given an award for staying cool under all of that, I would have completely lost it.

Hi, my son stated with his milk allegies when he was two and it was very hard to find other products to give him. I stated and used Soy Milk/Rice milk for over 2 years and please mom's do research. This milks are the worst, his mood change, attitude, he was not growing, rashes were still coming out out off no where. I take care of him as much I could and no change, until I spoke with a good friend she is a nutritionist and she told me about the problems with soy and rice milk. I stated doing research and I was very scared of my findings. I cried for days thinking that I was not helping him like I thought. I decided to star doing everything from scratch and dairy free completly and the change was so drastic. I stated cooking the same meals that my mom used to make for me when I was little and he is better than ever. Fruits, veggies, home made bread and a kid friendly presentation and they will love it. Please be careful, I understand how hard it is but it is worth it.

My neice was recently diagnosed with an allergy to eggs. She coughed a lot and just did not want to eat. She was way under weight becasue she would not eat. We now know it is because her little tummy hurt all the time. She is 2 years old now and they didn't catch this until she was 1 1/2. She was at my Mom and Dad's house and my dad cooked her eggs for breakfast, she immediatly threw up. He remembered that a few weeks earlier she had done the same thing. So he thought she might be allergic to eggs. She is! She eats great now, loves food, and is normal weight now.That new law about labeling everything with all allergy foods has to go into effect by the beginning of 2007. It will be much easier to tell what is in what after that. It took a while, but she finally figured out that if it said "flavoring" in the ingrediants, than it might have eggs.
good luck!

A.,
I have to say THANK YOU for your post! I am taking my 8 month old to the Ped today. She was originaly diagnosed with reflux and now the G.I. showed she is "grown" out of it but she still has some of the common symptoms; but anyway I was wondering if maybe she has some kind of food allergy because she ALWAYS has a runny nose and a constant cough that is a "wet" cough but all anyone can tell me is that her lungs are clear and not to worry about it is probably from being in daycare. Anyways, mainly thank you because I am confident now to ask the Ped about an allergy test. Take care and I hope your daughter continues to get better!
~A.~